DOCTOR SCIENTIARUM THESES 2003:27 Land Tenure in the Highlands of Eritrea: Economic Theory and Empirical Evidence

Abstract

A number of people and organizations have contributed to make the completion of this dissertation a reality. I am highly grateful to my supervisor Prof. Stein T. Holden for his invaluable advice and guidance throughout the dissertation work. I am also indebted to the University of Asmara, Eritrea, for allowing me to pursue higher education and NORAD for funding every aspect of my study including study and fieldwork outside Norway. Special gratitude also goes to Mr. Henning Svads, project coordinator at Norgaric (now retired), for his unfailing effort to make my study in and outside Norway smooth. In particular, I am grateful for his understanding and support when unforeseen things happen. I thank Dr. kjell Esser for his support in securing fund from NORAD to finish the last part of my work and Mr. Gilberg Thorbjørn for his help on many aspects of my study and stay in Norway. I am also indebted to Dr. Paul Vedeld for his support during some of my rough times. The toughest part of this PhD work was the fieldwork, which I would not be able to accomplish without the support of various individuals and institutions in Eritrea. In particular, I would like to thank the offices of the president, the budget and finance, and purchase of the University of Asmara for facilitating the administrative and financial aspects of the fieldwork. Mr. Abraham Gerezghier did a superb contribution in arranging the duplication of the questioners for the survey. I am especially indebted to the assistance I got from my colleagues at My CAAS